Methods and apparatus for crediting a media presentation device

ABSTRACT

Example apparatus disclosed herein are to identify encoded information present in audio obtained for a time period. Disclosed example apparatus are also to generate a signature of the audio for comparison with signatures of reference media. Disclosed example apparatus are also to generate a first determination that a media presentation device was in an off state during a first portion of the time period based on a gain level applied by an automatic gain controller to collect the audio. Disclosed example apparatus are also to override the first determination that the media presentation device was in the off state during the first portion of the time period with a second determination that the media presentation device was in an on state during the first portion of the time period, the second determination based on at least one of the encoded information or the signature.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This patent arises from a continuation of U.S. Pat. Application SerialNo. 17/565,198, now U.S. Pat. No., which was filed on Dec. 29, 2021, andis entitled “Methods and Apparatus for Crediting a Media PresentationDevice,” which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. Application Serial No.17/142,966, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,223,861, which was filed on Jan. 6,2021, and is entitled “Methods and Apparatus for Crediting a MediaPresentation Device,” which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. ApplicationSerial No. 16/860,987, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,924,788, which was filed onApr. 28, 2020, and is entitled “Methods and Apparatus for Crediting aMedia Presentation Device,” which is a continuation of U.S. Pat.Application Serial No. 15/729,395, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,687,098, whichwas filed on Oct. 10, 2017, and is entitled “Methods and Apparatus forCrediting a Media Presentation Device,” which is a continuation of U.S.Pat. Application Serial No. 15/015,784, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,832,496,which was filed on Feb. 4, 2016, and is entitled “Methods and Apparatusfor Crediting a Media Presentation Device,” which is a continuation ofU.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 13/718,878, now U.S. Pat. No.9,473,795, which was filed on Dec. 18, 2012, and is entitled “Methodsand Apparatus for Crediting a Media Presentation Device,” which claimsthe benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Pat. Application No.61/577,467, filed Dec. 19, 2011. U.S. Pat. Application Serial No.17/565,198, U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 17/142,966, U.S. Pat.Application Serial No. 16/860,987, U.S. Pat. Application Serial No.15/729,395, U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 15/015,784, U.S. Pat.Application Serial No. 13/718,878, and U.S. Provisional Pat. ApplicationNo. 61/577,467 are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirrespective entireties.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to audience measurement and,more particularly, to methods and apparatus for crediting a mediapresentation device.

BACKGROUND

Media ratings and other audience metering information are typicallygenerated by collecting media exposure information from a group ofstatistically selected households. Each of the statistically selectedhouseholds, also called metered households, typically has a data loggingand processing unit commonly referred to as a “home unit,” “meter” or“audience measurement device.” In metered households or, more generally,metering sites having multiple media presentation devices, the datalogging and processing functionality may be distributed among a singlehome unit and multiple site units, where one site unit may be providedfor each media presentation device or media presentation area andprovides data to the home unit for processing and/or communicating to acentral processing site. The home unit (or the combination of the homeunit and the site units) includes sensors to gather data from themonitored media presentation devices (e.g., audio-video (AV) devices) atthe selected site.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example media monitoring systemconstructed in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure tocredit media presentation to a media presentation device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example audience measurement device incommunication with an example media creditor as illustrated in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another example audience measurement devicein communication with another example media creditor as illustrated inFIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 illustrates a time period representative of crediting mediapresentations and/or non-presentations to a media presentation deviceduring in an example process to perform crediting.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart representative of example machine readableinstructions that may be executed to implement the example audiencemeasurement device of FIGS. 1-3 .

FIG. 6 is a flowchart representative of example machine readableinstructions that may be executed to implement the example mediacreditor of FIGS. 1-3 .

FIG. 7 is a flowchart representative of example machine readableinstructions that may be executed to implement the example mediacreditor and/or the example audience measurement device of FIGS. 1-3 toprocess captured audio.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an example processor system that may beused to execute the example machine readable instructions of FIGS. 5-7to implement the example audience measurement devices and/or the examplemedia creditors of FIGS. 1-3 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain examples are shown in the above-identified figures and describedin detail below. In describing these examples, like or identicalreference numbers are used to identify common or similar elements.Although the example systems and apparatus described herein include,among other components, software executed on hardware, such systems andapparatus is merely illustrative and should not be considered aslimiting. Any or all of the disclosed components could be embodiedexclusively in hardware, exclusively in software, exclusively infirmware or in some combination of hardware, firmware or software.

Metering data providing an accurate representation of the exposure tomedia content of persons in metered households is useful in generatingmedia ratings of value to advertisers and/or producers of media content.Generating accurate metering data has become difficult as the mediapresentation devices have become more complex in functionality andinteroperability.

Some existing methods for crediting metered environments with mediaexposure include connecting a metering device to a media presentationdevice (e.g., a television) in the metered environment and/or to sourcesof media (e.g., set top boxes, game consoles, etc.). Connecting andconfiguring the metering devices can be costly and time-consuming. Otherexisting methods include equipping each person in a metered environmentwith a personal meter to capture audio codes from ambient sounds.Personal meters are prone to being left in a different location than theassociated person, and can result in inaccurate measurements. Stillother existing methods include obtaining set top box data frommulti-system operators, such as cable and/or satellite delivery systems.However, such information may be proprietary and/or may result in skeweddata due to the differing characteristics of the customers of each typeof delivery system. For example, customers of cable providers arestatistically likely to watch different types of shows than customers ofsatellite providers. Extrapolating set top box data (or equivalent data)from multi-system operators to a general population may result ininaccurate measurements.

Furthermore, the previously-known technologies to detect the on state orthe off state of a media presentation device, as discussed above, arecomplex to set up by a person without additional training (e.g., inlocating the additional sensors properly to obtain a signal) and/or areexpensive to build and/or transport (e.g., because additional componentsadd cost and weight), which may reduce the number of participantscapable of being included in a metering project. Acquiring data fromother sources (e.g., purchasing set top box data from a multi-systemoperator) may be prohibitively expensive and/or statisticallymisrepresentative.

Against this backdrop, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufactureto capture data regarding media exposure (e.g., television viewinghabits of person(s) in metered households) and to credit meteredlocations and/or devices with media presentation, exposure, and/orconsumption are disclosed herein.

One example method of crediting media content as being presented by amedia presentation device includes capturing ambient audio from thelocation of the media presentation device and, based on the ambientaudio: 1) identifying information encoded in the ambient audio (e.g.,watermarks, codes, etc.), 2) generating signatures of the ambient audiofor comparison with signatures of known media, and/or 3) determiningwhether the media presentation device is in an on state or an off statebased on the ambient audio). In some examples, the recognition ofembedded code(s) during a time period overrides a determination that themedia presentation device is in an off state during the same timeperiod, and enables the media presentation device to be credited withthe media corresponding to the embedded code(s).

As used herein, media may refer to any type of audio and/or visual mediaincluding, but not limited to, television programs, advertisements,movies, video games, time-shifted programs, on-demand programs, and/orany other type of audio and/or video content and/or non-content media.Furthermore, the term media may refer to portions of and/or theentireties of such audio and/or visual media.

Example methods disclosed herein include obtaining ambient audio for atime period from a location including a media presentation device,detecting encoded information present in the ambient audio, crediting afirst portion of the time period for the media presentation device tofirst media based on the encoded information, determining an on/offstate of the media presentation device for a second portion of the timeperiod different than the first portion based on the ambient audio, andcrediting the second portion of the time period based on the on/offstate of the media presentation device.

Some example methods further include computing a signature of theambient audio corresponding to a third portion of the time perioddifferent from the first and second portions and crediting the thirdportion of the time period to the first media or to second media basedon the signature. Some such example methods further include comparingthe signature to a second signature, wherein crediting the third portionof the time period to the first media or to second media is based on thecomparison. In some such examples, crediting the first portion based onthe encoded information is performed before crediting the third portionbased on the signature, and crediting the third portion is performedprior to crediting the second portion based on the on/off state of themedia presentation device. In some such example methods, crediting thethird portion based on the signature comprises overriding adetermination that the media presentation device is in an off stateduring the third portion with a determination that the mediapresentation device is in an on state based on a comparison of thesignature to a reference signature.

In some examples, crediting the second portion comprising assigning anoff state to the second portion. In some example methods, crediting thefirst portion comprises overriding a determination that the mediapresentation device is in an off state during the first portion with adetermination that the media presentation device is in an on state basedon detecting the encoded information. In some example methods, obtainingthe ambient audio comprises recording the ambient audio at the location.

In some examples, obtaining the ambient audio comprises receiving a datafile including the ambient audio. In some example methods, detecting theencoded information comprises extracting a steganographically encodedwatermark. In some examples, determining the on/off state of theaudience measurement device is based only on the ambient audio.

Example apparatus disclosed herein include a code detector, an on/offdetector, and a location creditor. The example code detector detectsencoded information present in ambient audio collected from a monitoredlocation. The example on/off detector determines a first portion of atime period during which a media presentation device in the monitoredlocation is in an on state and determines a second portion of the timeperiod during which the media presentation device is in an off statebased on the ambient audio. The example location creditor credits athird portion of the time period for the media presentation device tofirst media based on the encoded information and credits a fourthportion of the time period different from the third portion based on theon state or the off state of the media presentation device during thefourth portion of the time period.

Some example apparatus further include a microphone to collect theambient audio in the location including the media presentation deviceduring a time period. Some example apparatus further include a networkinterface to receive the ambient audio via a network. Some exampleapparatus further include a signature generator to generate a signatureof a portion of the ambient audio, the location creditor to credit afifth portion of the time period based on the signature. In some suchexamples, the location creditor credits the third portion based on theencoded information prior to crediting the fifth portion based on thesignature and credits the fifth portion prior to crediting the fourthportion based on the on state or the off state of the media presentationdevice.

Some other example methods disclosed herein include obtaining encodedinformation extracted from ambient audio, the ambient audio beingrecorded during a time period in a location including a mediapresentation device, crediting a first portion of the time period forthe media presentation device to first media based on the encodedinformation, obtaining an on/off state of the media presentation devicefor a second portion of the time period different than the firstportion, the on/off state being based on the ambient audio, andcrediting the second portion of the time period based on the on/offstate of the media presentation device.

In some examples, obtaining the encoded information includes receivingthe encoded information in a data file from an audience measurementdevice located in the location. Some example methods further includeobtaining a characterization of the ambient audio corresponding to athird portion of the time period different from the first and secondportions, and crediting the third portion of the time period to thefirst media or to second media based on the signature. In some suchexample methods, obtaining the characterization comprises receiving adigital signature in the data file from an audience measurement devicelocated in the location.

Some disclosed example apparatus include a processor and a memorystoring computer readable instructions. When executed, the computerreadable instructions cause the processor to access encoded informationextracted from ambient audio, the ambient audio being recorded during atime period in a location including a media presentation device, credita first portion of the time period for the media presentation device tofirst media based on the encoded information, access an on/off state ofthe media presentation device for a second portion of the time perioddifferent than the first portion, the on/off state being based on theambient audio, and credit the second portion of the time period based onthe on/off state of the media presentation device.

In some such example apparatus, the instructions are to cause theprocessor to access the encoded information in a data file received froman audience measurement device located in the location. In someexamples, the instructions further cause the processor to access acharacterization of the ambient audio corresponding to a third portionof the time period different from the first and second portions andcredit the third portion of the time period to the first media or tosecond media based on the signature. In some such examples, theinstructions are to cause the processor to access a digital signature ina data file received from an audience measurement device located in thelocation.

Some disclosed example methods include obtaining ambient audio for atime period from a location including a media presentation device,computing a signature of the ambient audio, crediting a first portion ofthe time period for the media presentation device to first media basedon the signature, determining an on/off state of the media presentationdevice for a second portion of the time period different than the firstportion based on the ambient audio, and crediting the second portion ofthe time period based on the on/off state of the media presentationdevice. Some example methods further include comparing the signature toa second signature, wherein crediting the first portion of the timeperiod to the first media is based on the comparison.

Some disclosed example apparatus include a signature generator, anon/off detector, and a location creditor. The example signaturegenerator computes a signature of ambient audio collected from amonitored location. The on/off detector determines a first portion of atime period during which a media presentation device in the monitoredlocation is in an on state and determines a second portion of the timeperiod during which the media presentation device is in an off statebased on the ambient audio. The example location creditor credits athird portion of the time period for the media presentation device tofirst media based on the signature and credits a fourth portion of thetime period different from the third portion based on the on state orthe off state of the media presentation device during the fourth portionof the time period. In some such example apparatus the location creditorcompares the signature to a reference signature associated with thefirst media, wherein crediting the third portion of the time period isbased on the comparison.

Some disclosed example methods include obtaining a characterization ofambient audio, the ambient audio being recorded during a time period ina location including a media presentation device, crediting a firstportion of the time period for the media presentation device to firstmedia based on the characterization, obtaining an on/off state of themedia presentation device for a second portion of the time perioddifferent than the first portion, the on/off state being based on theambient audio, and crediting the second portion of the time period basedon the on/off state of the media presentation device. In some examples,obtaining the characterization includes accessing a digital signature ina data file received from the media presentation device. Some examplemethods further include comparing the characterization to a referencecharacterization, wherein crediting the first portion is based on thecomparison.

Some disclosed example apparatus include a processor and a memory. Theexample memory stores computer readable instructions which, whenexecuted, cause the processor to access a characterization of ambientaudio, the ambient audio being recorded during a time period in alocation including a media presentation device, credit a first portionof the time period for the media presentation device to first mediabased on the characterization, access an on/off state of the mediapresentation device for a second portion of the time period differentthan the first portion, the on/off state being based on the ambientaudio, and credit the second portion of the time period based on theon/off state of the media presentation device. In some examples, theinstructions are to cause the processor to access the characterizationfrom a data file received from the media presentation device. In someexamples, the instructions are further to cause the processor to comparethe characterization to a reference characterization, wherein creditingthe first portion is based on the comparison.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a media content provider 102 provides content toan audience via one or more information presentation devices, such as aset top box 104 and a television 106. The components of the mediapresentation system may be coupled in any manner. In the illustratedexample, the television 106 is positioned in a monitored area 120located within a household occupied by one or more people, representedby a person 122, some or all of whom have agreed to participate in anaudience measurement research study. The monitored area 120 includes thearea in which the television 106 is located and from which the one ormore household member(s) 122 located in the monitored area 120 may viewthe television 106.

The media content provider 102 may convey the media content to a meteredhousehold 120 via a cable network, a radio transmitter or one or moresatellites. For example, the media content provider 102 may be a cabletelevision provider distributing the television programs exclusively viaa cable network or a satellite provider distributing media viasatellite. The media content provider 102 may transmit media signals inany suitable format, such as a National Television Standards Committee(NTSC) television signal format, a high definition television (HDTV)signal format, an Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB)television signal format, etc.

In the example of FIG. 1 , an audience measurement system 100 is used tocollect audience measurement data concerning media activity associatedwith the metered household. A metered household may include one or moremonitored areas 120. To this end, the audience measurement system 100includes an audience measurement device 108 to collect mediapresentation information associated with one or more media device(s)(e.g., the set top box 104 and the television 106) in the monitored area120. In the example of FIG. 1 , the audience measurement device 108collects presentation information including ambient audio (e.g., via oneor more microphones) and/or audience member identification (e.g., viaaudience member log-ins and/or audience member prompt suppression). Theaudio recorded via the microphone(s) of the example audience measurementdevice 108 may include ambient audio signals from the monitored mediapresentation device (e.g., the television 106) and/or background noisefrom within the monitored area 120. For example, the ambient audio maycomprise audio signal(s) reflecting humanly audible and/or humanlyinaudible sounds within the household recorded via microphone(s) coupledto or included in the audience measurement device 108. Additionally oralternatively, the audience measurement device 108 may collectinformation including signals (e.g., infrared, radio frequency, etc.)generated by a remote control device 112.

The example audience measurement device 108 of FIG. 1 provides thepresentation information, which may include recorded or captured audio,detected codes associated with the ambient audio, digital signaturesrepresentative of the ambient audio, tuning and/or demographicinformation, etc. for evaluation in a back office 130. In some examples,the audience measurement device 108 processes captured audio informationto generate the presentation information. In some other examples, theaudience measurement device transmits the captured audio to the backoffice 130 for processing. In the example of FIG. 1 , the audiencemeasurement device 108 transmits the presentation information via a datareturn path, such as cellular communications and/or wireless datacommunications, to the back office 130 for evaluation.

In the example of FIG. 1 , the information collected by the audiencemeasurement device 108 is processed and/or stored in the back office 130to produce ratings information. The example back office 130 of FIG. 1includes a media creditor 132 to credit the television 106, themonitored area 120, and/or the person 122 with media presentation. Themedia creditor 132 and the audience measurement device 108 of FIG. 1cooperate to identify codes or watermarks embedded in the ambient audio,generate signatures of the ambient audio, compare the generatedsignatures with reference signatures of known media, and/or determinewhether the media presentation device is in an on state or an off statebased on the ambient audio. Based on these factors, the example mediacreditor 132 credits the media presentation device 106, the monitoredarea 120, and/or the person 122 during the time period represented bythe ambient audio with media.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example audience measurement device 202in communication with an example media creditor 204 to implement theaudience measurement system 100 of FIG. 1 . The example audiencemeasurement device 202 of FIG. 2 may be used to implement the audiencemeasurement device 108 and the example media creditor 204 of FIG. 2 maybe used to implement the media creditor 132 at the back office 130 ofFIG. 1 .

The example audience measurement device 202 of FIG. 2 includes one ormore microphones 206, an automatic gain controller 210, and a data filegenerator 212. The example microphone 206 records ambient audio from alocation within which the audience measurement device 202 is located.For example, the audience measurement device 202 may be configured suchthat the microphone 206 reliably captures audio output from a mediapresentation device (e.g., the presentation device 106 of FIG. 1 ) to bemonitored.

The example automatic gain controller (AGC) 210 of FIG. 2 receives thecaptured audio signals and applies an automatic gain algorithm to boostthe signal levels based on the level (e.g., energy, amplitude) of theinput signal. The example AGC 210 outputs the boosted signals and theamount of gain applied to the data file generator 212. The example datafile generator 212 of FIG. 2 generates a data file that includes thecaptured audio. In some examples, the data file further includes anindication of the gain applied by the AGC 210. The example data filegenerator 212 includes time stamps corresponding to the captured audioand/or to the gain levels to enable correlation of the audio withparticular times (e.g., to credit the media presentation device withmedia presentation for the proper time periods).

The example data file generator 212 outputs the data file to an inputdatabase 214 via a return path interface 216. The example input database214 of FIG. 2 obtains data files from multiple audience measurementdevices for retrieval and processing by the media creditor 204. Theexample return path interface 216 of FIG. 2 may include any type ofcommunications interface, such as a cellular radio or wireless localarea network (WLAN) radio. In the example of FIG. 2 , the return pathinterface 216 communicates with the input database 214 via a cellulardata connection to an Internet protocol (IP) network to reduce oreliminate any dependency of the return path to the media creditor 304 onWLAN infrastructure of the location being monitored.

The example media creditor 204 of FIG. 2 obtains the data file includingcaptured ambient audio from the monitored area 120 (e.g., from the inputdatabase 214, from the data file generator 212) via a network interface218 and credits the monitored location associated with the audiencemeasurement device 202 (e.g., the monitored location 120 of FIG. 1 ). Toaccurately credit the location based on the data file, the example mediacreditor 204 includes a code detector 220, a signature generator 222, anon/off detector 224, and a location creditor 226. The network interface218 provides the received data file to each of the example code detector220, the example signature generator 222, and the example on/offdetector 224 to process the data file (e.g., process the audio).

The example code detector 220 of FIG. 2 detects embedded codes (e.g.,steganographically embedded codes, watermarks, and/or other auxiliarydata) present in the captured audio in the data file. The embedded codesmay include information describing the media being presented, thechannel being watched, and/or other audience measurement information.The example code detector 220 outputs the detected codes to the locationcreditor 226 to credit the media presentation device 106 with the mediaidentified in the code(s).

The example code detector 220 may use any method(s) for detecting codesembedded in audio for audience measurement. In some cases, multipleembedded codes are present in a given block of audio and may beextracted using different techniques. Examples of techniques that may beused to extract embedded codes (e.g., watermarks) from the audio aredescribed in U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 12/249,619, assigned toThe Nielsen Company (US), LLC, filed on Oct. 10, 2008; in U.S. Pat.Application Serial No. 12/361,991, assigned to The Nielsen Company (US),LLC, filed on Jan. 29, 2009; in U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,445, assigned toArbitron Inc., issued on Jul. 16, 2002; and/or in U.S. Pat. No.6,272,176, assigned to The Nielsen Company (US), LLC, issued on Aug. 7,2001. The methods described in these patents and applications are merelyexamples, and any other method(s) may be used in addition and/or as analternative to these methods.

The extracted embedded codes or watermarks may be identified using acode database 228 including a library of codes. In some examples, thecodes in the code database 228 include information identifying mediainto which the codes have been inserted or embedded. The examplelocation creditor 226 may determine whether an extracted codecorresponds to a code that has been inserted into audio by querying thecode database 228 for the extracted code. If the extracted code (or acode within an error range of the extracted code) is found, the examplelocation creditor 226 may identify the extracted code as correspondingto the media of the code in the code database 228.

The example signature generator 222 generates signatures of the capturedaudio in the data file. The generated signatures may be compared toreference signatures to match the audio to known media. The examplemedia creditor 204 of FIG. 2 receives the reference signatures from areference signature database 230. Signature matching may be used tocredit media presentation to portions of time in which embedded codesare not detected and/or are not recognizable.

The example signature generator 222 may use any method(s) forcharacterizing audio (e.g., generating signatures of audio) and/orcomparing generated signatures to reference signatures. In some cases,multiple signatures using different techniques. Examples of techniquesthat may be used to extract embedded codes (e.g., watermarks) from theaudio are described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,060,372, assigned to The NielsenCompany (US), LLC, issued on Nov. 15, 2011; in U.S. Pat. ApplicationSerial No. 12/110,951, assigned to The Nielsen Company (US), LLC, filedon Apr. 28, 2008; and/or U.S. Pat. Application Serial No. 12/266,380,assigned to The Nielsen Company (US), LLC, filed on Nov. 6, 2008. Themethods described in these patents and applications are merely examples,and any other method(s) to generate signatures may be used in additionand/or as an alternative to these methods to implement the signaturegenerator 222.

The example on/off detector 224 of FIG. 2 determines when the mediapresentation device 106 is in an on state and/or when the mediapresentation device 106 is in an off state during the time periodrepresented by the audio in the data file. To determine the on state(s)and/or the off state(s), the example on/off detector 224 uses, forexample, fuzzy logic, rules, or heuristics to make inferences regardingthe on/off state of the media presentation device 106. In some examples,the on/off detector 224 determines the on/off state of the mediapresentation device 106 based only on the captured audio, whereprocessing of the audio (e.g., gain levels, statistics of the audio) areconsidered to be based on the captured audio. For example, the on/offdetector 224 may determine, for a given portion of the time period,whether the media presentation device 106 is in an on state or an offstate based on the gain level applied by the AGC 210 and/or based onprocessing the audio, without measuring power drawn by the mediapresentation device 106. An example method to implement the on/offdetector 224 of FIG. 2 is described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,180,712, assignedto The Nielsen Company (US), LLC, issued on May 15, 2012. However, othermethods of audio-based on/off detection may additionally oralternatively be used.

The example location creditor 226 of FIG. 2 receives extracted codes(e.g., from the code detector 220), generated signatures representativeof the audio (e.g., from the signature generator 222), and/ordeterminations of the on state periods and/or the off state periods ofthe media presentation device 106 (e.g., from the on/off detector 224).Based on the received codes, signatures, and determinations, the examplelocation creditor 226 credits the media presentation device 106 with theappropriate media presentations during the time period represented bythe data file.

In the example of FIG. 2 , the location creditor 226 overridesdeterminations of an off state by the on/off detector 224 when extractedcodes and/or matching signatures from the audio in the data fileindicates that media being presented by the media presentation device106 during a corresponding time. For example, the location creditor 226may credit the time periods for which a code is extracted and for whichmatching signatures are found prior to crediting time periods based onon/off detection information.

The example location creditor 226 outputs the crediting information forthe time period represented by the captured audio. The creditinginformation may be stored and/or aggregated with crediting informationfor other time periods and/or other audience measurement devices to, forexample, generate ratings information.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another example audience measurement device302 in communication with another example media creditor 304 toimplement the audience measurement system 100 of FIG. 1 . The exampleaudience measurement device 302 of FIG. 3 may be used to implement theaudience measurement device 108 and the example media creditor 304 ofFIG. 3 may be used to implement the media creditor 132 at the backoffice 130 of FIG. 1 .

In contrast to the example audience measurement device 202 of FIG. 2 ,the example audience measurement device 302 of FIG. 3 generates a datafile including extracted codes, generated signatures, and/or on/offdetection information. The example media creditor 304 may then performthe crediting of the location based on the information received via thedata file.

The example audience measurement device 302 of FIG. 3 includes one ormore microphones 206, an AGC 210, a data file generator 212, a returnpath interface 216, a code detector 220, a signature generator 222, andan on/off detector 224. Because many of the elements of FIG. 3 aresimilar to elements in the example of FIG. 2 , like reference numbersare used to refer to like elements. This numbering convention isemployed throughout this description to reduce redundant description.

The example microphone 206 of FIG. 3 captures ambient audio from a mediapresentation device to be measured (e.g., the media presentation device106 of FIG. 1 ). The microphone 206 outputs an electrical signalrepresentative of the audio to the AGC 210, which applies a gain to theelectrical signal based on the level (e.g., the energy, the amplitude,etc.) of the captured audio. In contrast to the AGC 210 of FIG. 2 ,which outputs the amplified signal and the gain level to the data filegenerator 212, the example AGC 210 of FIG. 3 outputs the audio and/orthe gain level to the code detector 220, the signature generator 222,and the on/off detector 224. In some examples, the AGC 210 also providesthe amplified signal to the data file generator 212 for inclusion (e.g.,storage) in a data file generated by the data file generator 212.

The example data file generator 212 of FIG. 3 receives outputs from theexample code detector 220, the example signature generator 222, and theexample on/off detector 224. For example, the code detector 220 of FIG.3 extracts codes embedded in the captured audio and provides the codesto the example data file generator 212. The example signature generator222 of FIG. 3 generates signatures representative of the captured audioand provides the generated signatures to the example data file generator212. The example on/off detector 224 of FIG. 3 determines periods oftime during which the media presentation device 106 is in an on stateand periods of time during which the media presentation device 106 is inon off state, and provides the determinations and/or the time periods tothe example data file generator 212.

The example data file generator 212 of FIG. 3 generates a data fileincluding extracted codes or watermarks, generated signatures, and/or onstate and/or off state determinations for the media presentation device106. As mentioned above, the example data file generator 212 may furtherinclude the captured audio and/or the gain levels. The audiencemeasurement device 302 transmits the data file via the return pathinterface 216 to an input database 214, which stores the data file forretrieval by the media creditor 304.

The example media creditor 304 of FIG. 3 includes a network interface218 and a location creditor 226. The example network interface 218receives the data file from the input database 214 and/or from thereturn path interface 216. Based on the data file, the location creditor226 credits the media presentation device 106 with media presentationsbased on the extracted codes, the generated signatures, and/or theon/off state determinations. In the example of FIG. 3 , the locationcreditor 226 compares the generated signatures in the data file tosignatures from a reference signature database 230 to identify mediarepresented by the generated signatures. The example location creditor226 outputs the crediting of the media presentation device 106 to, forexample, generate television ratings information.

In the example of FIG. 3 , the location creditor 226 first appliesextracted codes (e.g., watermarks) in the data file to credit the mediapresentation device 106. For portions of a time period represented bythe data file in which codes are not recognized, the example locationcreditor 226 of FIG. 3 determines whether the signatures correspondingto those portions match reference signatures. The example locationcreditor 226 of FIG. 3 credits the media presentation device 106 for theportions of the time period based on matching signatures. For portionsof the time period that cannot be credited based on either codes orsignatures (e.g., the remaining portions of the time period), theexample location creditor 226 credits the media presentation device 106using the determinations of the on states of the media presentationdevice 106 and the off states of the media presentation device 106.

While example manners of implementing the audience measurement system100 of FIG. 1 have been illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 , one or more ofthe elements, processes and/or devices illustrated in FIGS. 2 and/or 3may be combined, divided, rearranged, omitted, eliminated and/orimplemented in any other way. Further, the example AGC 210, the exampledata file generator 212, the example input database 214, the examplereturn path interface 216, the example network interface 218, theexample code detector 220, the example signature generator 222, theexample on/off detector 224, the example location creditor 226, theexample reference signature database 230 and/or, more generally, theexample audience measurement device 108, 202, 302 and/or the examplemedia creditor 132, 204, 304 of FIGS. 1-3 may be implemented byhardware, software, firmware and/or any combination of hardware,software and/or firmware. Thus, for example, any of the example AGC 210,the example data file generator 212, the example input database 214, theexample return path interface 216, the example network interface 218,the example code detector 220, the example signature generator 222, theexample on/off detector 224, the example location creditor 226, theexample reference signature database 230 and/or, more generally, theexample audience measurement device 108, 202, 302 and/or the examplemedia creditor 132, 204, 304 of FIGS. 1-3 could be implemented by one ormore circuit(s), programmable processor(s), application specificintegrated circuit(s) (ASIC(s)), programmable logic device(s) (PLD(s))and/or field programmable logic device(s) (FPLD(s)), etc.

When any of the apparatus or system claims of this patent are read tocover a purely software and/or firmware implementation, at least one ofthe example AGC 210, the example data file generator 212, the exampleinput database 214, the example return path interface 216, the examplenetwork interface 218, the example code detector 220, the examplesignature generator 222, the example on/off detector 224, the examplelocation creditor 226, the example reference signature database 230 ofFIGS. 2 and/or 3 are hereby expressly defined to include a tangiblecomputer readable medium such as a memory, DVD, CD, Blu-ray, etc.storing the software and/or firmware. Further still, the exampleaudience measurement device 202, 302 and/or the example media creditor204, 304 of FIGS. 2 and/or 3 may include one or more elements, processesand/or devices in addition to, or instead of, those illustrated in FIGS.2 and/or 3 , and/or may include more than one of any or all of theillustrated elements, processes and devices.

FIG. 4 illustrates a time period 400 representative of crediting mediapresentations and/or non-presentations to a media presentation deviceduring in an example process to perform crediting. The example processof FIG. 4 includes a set of credited time periods 402-410 that may beperformed using the audience measurement device 108, 202, 302 and/or themedia creditor 132, 204, 304 of FIGS. 1-3 . The example credited timeperiods 402-410 correspond to the same time period 400, which representscaptured or recorded audio in a data file to be processed. The exampletime period 400 and the portions of the time period 400 discussed beloware illustrative, and are not necessarily to scale. In the example ofFIG. 4 , different crosshatching is used to illustrate portions of thetime period 400 that are credited using different techniques and do notnecessarily represent different media.

In the example credited time period 402 of FIG. 4 the data file is yetto be processed and no part of the time period 400 has been credited. Inthe example credited time period 404, the example code extractor 220and/or the example location creditor 226 of FIGS. 2 and/or 3 determine,based on the data file, that embedded codes were present in the capturedaudio during portions 414, 416, 418 of the time period 400. Accordingly,the example location creditor 226 credits the portions 414-418 withrespective media presentations, while the remainder of the time period400 in the credited time period 404 are not credited.

In the example credited time period 406 of FIG. 4 , the examplesignature generator 222 and/or the example location creditor 226 ofFIGS. 2 and/or 3 determine, based on generated signatures in the datafile, that a portion 420 of the time period 400 corresponds to a mediapresentation. The example location creditor 226 of FIGS. 2 and/or 3credits the portion 420 with media presentation (e.g., based on thereference signature to which the generated signature is matched). Theremaining portions of the time period 400 that have not been creditedbased on codes or signature matching remain not credited at creditedtime period 406.

In the example credited time period 408, the example on/off detector 224and/or the example location creditor 226 of FIGS. 2 and/or 3 determine,based on generated signatures in the data file, that portions 422, 424of the time period 400 are to be credited as in an on state (e.g.,presenting media) and portions 426, 428, 430 of the time period 400 areto be credited as in an off state (e.g., not presenting media).Therefore, after the example credited time period 408, the mediapresentation device 106 has been credited for the entire example timeperiod 400 (e.g., based on particular media, not based on particularmedia, and/or in an off state).

In the example credited time period 410, the example location creditor226 of FIGS. 2 and/or 3 determines the media with which the mediapresentation device 106 is to be credited during the time period 400.For example, while the portions 422, 424 in the credited time period 408are initially credited as in an on state (and, therefore, presumablypresenting media), the example location creditor 226 may determine themedia being presented during the portions based on, for example,continuity of audio with portions 414, 416, and/or 420 adjacent to theportions 422 and/or 424. In some examples, if the portions 422 and/or424 are sufficiently brief and the portions adjacent the portions 422,424 represent identical media, the location creditor 226 may assume thatthe portions 422 and/or 424 represent the same media as the adjacentportion(s). Any other appropriate assumptions may be used to credit theportions 422, 424 that correspond to an on state of the mediapresentation device 106.

In the example credited time period 410 of FIG. 4 , the locationcreditor 226 credits contiguous portion 430, contiguous portion 432, andcontiguous portion 434 with different media. The example locationcreditor 226 credits the portions 436, 438, and 440 with an off staterepresentative of media not being presented by the media presentationdevice 106.

In some other examples, the audio may be provided for the portions 422,424 for further analysis to determine the media being presented duringthe portions 422, 424. Such analysis may include applying additionalsignaturing techniques and performing comparisons of the signaturesand/or enabling a human to listen to the audio to determine whether theaudio corresponds to the same media as adjacent portions 414, 416,and/or 420.

While the example credited time periods 402-410 of FIG. 4 are shown in aparticular order, other sequences of crediting may be used. For example,the location creditor 226 of FIGS. 2 and/or 3 may credit the on statesand/or the off states of the media presentation device 106 andsubsequently override the on states and/or the off states with creditingof media based on extracted codes and/or signaturing.

Flowcharts representative of example machine readable instructions forimplementing the example AGC 210, the example data file generator 212,the example input database 214, the example return path interface 216,the example network interface 218, the example code detector 220, theexample signature generator 222, the example on/off detector 224, theexample location creditor 226, the example reference signature database230 and/or, more generally, the example audience measurement device 108,202, 302 and/or the example media creditor 132, 204, 304 of FIGS. 1-3are shown in FIGS. 5-7 . In this example, the machine readableinstructions comprise program(s) for execution by a processor such asthe processor 812 shown in the example processor platform 800 discussedbelow in connection with FIG. 8 . The program(s) may be embodied insoftware stored on a tangible computer readable medium such as a CD-ROM,a floppy disk, a hard drive, a digital versatile disk (DVD), a Blu-raydisk, or a memory associated with the processor 812, but the entireprogram(s) and/or parts thereof could alternatively be executed by adevice other than the processor 812 and/or embodied in firmware ordedicated hardware. Further, although the example program is describedwith reference to the flowcharts illustrated in FIGS. 5-7 many othermethods of implementing the example AGC 210, the example data filegenerator 212, the example input database 214, the example return pathinterface 216, the example network interface 218, the example codedetector 220, the example signature generator 222, the example on/offdetector 224, the example location creditor 226, the example referencesignature database 230 and/or, more generally, the example audiencemeasurement device 108, 202, 302 and/or the example media creditor 132,204, 304 of FIGS. 1-3 may alternatively be used. For example, the orderof execution of the blocks may be changed, and/or some of the blocksdescribed may be changed, eliminated, or combined.

The example instructions 500-700 of FIGS. 5, 6, and/or 7 may beimplemented using coded instructions (e.g., computer readableinstructions) stored on a tangible computer readable medium such as ahard disk drive, a flash memory, a read-only memory (ROM), a compactdisk (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a cache, a random-accessmemory (RAM) and/or any other storage medium in which information isstored for any duration (e.g., for extended time periods, permanently,brief instances, for temporarily buffering, and/or for caching of theinformation). As used herein, the term tangible computer readablestorage medium is expressly defined to include any type of computerreadable storage device or storage disc (e.g., a magnetic storage disc,an optical storage disc) and to exclude propagating signals.Additionally or alternatively, the example processes of FIGS. 5, 6,and/or 7 may be implemented using coded instructions (e.g., computerreadable instructions) stored on a non-transitory computer readablemedium such as a hard disk drive, a flash memory, a read-only memory, acompact disk, a digital versatile disk, a cache, a random-access memoryand/or any other storage media in which information is stored for anyduration (e.g., for extended time periods, permanently, brief instances,for temporarily buffering, and/or for caching of the information). Asused herein, the term non-transitory computer readable medium isexpressly defined to include any type of computer readable storagedevice or storage disc (e.g., a magnetic storage disc, an opticalstorage disc) and to exclude propagating signals. As used herein, whenthe phrase “at least” is used as the transition term in a preamble of aclaim, it is openended in the same manner as the term “comprising” isopen ended. Thus, a claim using “at least” as the transition term in itspreamble may include elements in addition to those expressly recited inthe claim.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart representative of example machine readableinstructions 500 that may be executed to implement the example audiencemeasurement devices 108, 202, 302 of FIGS. 1-3 . The exampleinstructions 500 may be executed to generate a data file fortransmission via a return path to the example media creditors 116, 204,304 of FIGS. 1-3 . The instructions 500 of FIG. 5 will be described, byway of example, with reference to the example audience measurementdevice 302 of FIG. 3 .

The example audience measurement device 302 initializes (block 502). Forexample, the audience measurement device 108 may determine a numberand/or type of microphones 206, 208 for capturing audio and determine areference time signal (e.g., from a cellular data connection via thereturn path interface 216). The example audience measurement device 302is calibrated (block 504). For example, the audience measurement device302 may be calibrated to an ambient audio level in a location in whichthe audience measurement device 302 is placed and/or may be calibratedto an audio level and/or audio range of a media presentation device 106to be monitored via the audience measurement device 302. In someexamples, calibration improves the accuracy of on/off statedeterminations.

The example audience measurement device 302 captures (e.g., records)ambient audio in the location (block 506). For example, the audiencemeasurement device 302 captures audio output from the media presentationdevice 106 being monitored when the media presentation device 106 isplaying audio.

The example audience measurement device 302 determines whether toprocess the captured audio (block 508). For example, the audiencemeasurement device 302 may be enabled to extract codes or watermarksembedded in the captured audio, generate digital signaturesrepresentative of the captured audio, and/or determine whether the mediapresentation device 106 is in an on state or an off state based on thecaptured audio. If the audience measurement device 302 is to process thecaptured audio (block 508), the example audience measurement device 302proceeds to process the audio (block 510). Example instructions toimplement block 510 are described below with reference to FIG. 7 .

After processing the audio (block 510), or if the audience measurementdevice 302 is to not process the audio (block 508), the example audiencemeasurement device 302 determines whether to include the captured audioin the data file (block 512). If the audience measurement device 302 isto include the captured audio in the data file (block 512), the exampleaudience measurement device 302 stores the captured audio in the datafile (block 514). In some examples, the audience measurement device 302includes the captured audio in the data file (block 514) when the audiois not processed by the audience measurement device 302 (block 508). Insome examples, the audience measurement device 302 does not include thecaptured audio in the data file when the audience measurement device 302processes the audio in the data file (e.g., includes extracted code(s),generated signature(s), and/or on/off determinations in the data file inblock 510).

After storing the captured audio in the data file (block 514), or if thecaptured audio is not to be included (block 512), the example audiencemeasurement device 302 determines whether the data file is to betransmitted (block 516). For example, the audience measurement device302 may transmit the data file (e.g., from the data file generator 212via the return path interface 216 of FIGS. 2 and/or 3 ) periodically,aperiodically, at particular times, in response to an event or condition(e.g., a local memory is filled), on request, and/or based on any othercriteria. If the audience measurement device 302 is to not transmit thedata file (block 516) (e.g., a measurement period has not yet elapsed),control returns to block 506 to continue capturing ambient audio.

When the audience measurement device 302 is to transmit the data file(block 516) (e.g., a time period has elapsed), the example data filegenerator 212 generates the data file corresponding to a time period(block 518). The generated data file may include the captured audioand/or any data resulting from processing the audio. The example datafile generator 212 transmits the data file via the return path interface216 (block 520). For example, the return path interface 216 mayestablish a cellular data connection to transmit the data file to theinput database 214 and/or to the media creditor 304 of FIG. 3 . Theexample instructions 500 may then end and/or iterate to capture audiofor a subsequent measurement period. In some examples, iterating theinstructions 500 may result in omitting blocks 502 and/or 504 for thesubsequent iterations.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart representative of example machine readableinstructions 600 that may be executed to implement the example mediacreditor 132, 204, 304 of FIGS. 1-3 . The example instructions 600 maybe executed to credit a media presentation device based on a data file.The instructions 600 of FIG. 6 will be described, by way of example,with reference to the example media creditor 204 of FIG. 2 .

The example media creditor 204 receives a data file (e.g., from theaudience measurement device 202 and/or the input database 214 of FIG. 2) (block 602). The example data file may include captured audio, gainlevels for the AGC 210, codes or watermarks extracted from the audio,signatures representative of the audio, on/off determinations, timestamps, and/or identification data for the monitored location associatedwith the audience measurement device 202.

The example media creditor 204 (e.g., via the location creditor 226)determines a time period and an audience measurement device representedby the data file (block 604). For example, the location creditor 226 maydetermine that the data file corresponds to a predetermined time period(e.g., a particular day, a particular week, etc.) and/or may determinethe time period based on a range of time stamps in the data file. Theexample location creditor 226 of FIG. 3 may determine the audiencemeasurement device based on an identification of the audiencemeasurement device 202 and/or an identification of the mediapresentation device 106 included in the data file.

The example location creditor 226 determines whether the audio in thedata file is to be processed (block 606). In examples in which theaudience measurement device 202 does not process the audio, the examplelocation creditor 226 may determine that the audio is to be processed.For example, the location creditor 226 may determine whether signaturesand/or on/off determinations are present or omitted from the data file,which may indicate whether the audience measurement device 202 performedprocessing on the captured audio.

For example, the media creditor 204 may be enabled to extract codes orwatermarks embedded in the captured audio (e.g., via the code extractor220 of FIG. 2 ), generate digital signatures representative of thecaptured audio (e.g., via the signature generator 222 of FIG. 2 ),and/or determine whether the media presentation device 106 is in an onstate or an off state based on the captured audio (e.g., via the on/offdetector 224 of FIG. 2 ). If the audience measurement device 302 is toprocess the captured audio (block 606), the example audience measurementdevice 302 proceeds to process the audio (block 608). Exampleinstructions to implement block 608 are described below with referenceto FIG. 7 .

After processing the audio (block 608), or if the media creditor 204 isto not process the audio (block 606), the example media creditor 204determines (e.g., via the location creditor 226) whether extractedcode(s) are present (block 610). The location creditor 226 may determinewhether code(s) are present in the data file and/or from processing theaudio. If extracted codes are present (block 610), the example locationcreditor 226 credits the respective portion(s) of the time periodrepresented by the data file based on the extracted code(s) (block 612).Crediting the portions of the time period may include, for example,associating media identified via the extracted codes with the mediapresentation device 106 for the portions of the time period.

After crediting based on the extracted code(s) (block 612), or if noextracted codes are present (block 610), the example location creditor226 determines whether any signatures of the audio are present (block614). The location creditor 226 may determine whether signatures(s) arepresent in the data file and/or from processing the audio. Ifsignature(s) are present (block 614), the example location creditor 226compares the signature(s) to reference signature(s) (block 616). Theexample location creditor 226 credits portion(s) of the time periodrepresented by the data file based on the comparison(s) of thesignature(s) to the reference signature(s) (block 618). For example, ifa generated signature is considered to match a reference signature, theexample location creditor 226 credits the portion of the time periodassociated with the generated signature (e.g., credits the mediapresentation device 106 with the media corresponding to the matchedreference signature).

After crediting based on the comparison(s) of the signature(s) toreference signature(s) (block 618), or if there are no signaturespresent (block 614), the example location creditor 226 creditsportion(s) of the time period based on determinations of on states ofthe media presentation device 106 and/or off states of the mediapresentation device 106 (block 620). For example, the location creditor226 may use the on/off determinations to credit the portion(s) of thetime period that were not credited using codes (block 612) and/orsignatures (block 618). In some examples, the location creditor 226further credits media to the media presentation device 106 for theportion(s) of the time period during which the media presentation device106 is determined to be on.

The example location creditor 226 outputs the crediting of the mediapresentation device 106 for the time period represented by the data file(block 622). The crediting of the media presentation device 106 may beused to, for example, determine demographic information and/or generatetelevision ratings information.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart representative of example machine readableinstructions 700 that may be executed to implement the example mediacreditor 132, 204, 304 of FIGS. 1-3 and/or the example audiencemeasurement device 108, 202, 302 of FIGS. 1-3 to process captured audio.The instructions 700 of FIG. 7 will be described, by way of example,with reference to the example media creditor 204 of FIG. 2 .

The example instructions 700 of FIG. 7 may be executed in response to anaudience measurement device (e.g., the audience measurement device 108,202, 302 of FIGS. 1-3 ) and/or a media creditor (e.g., media creditor132, 204, 304 of FIGS. 1-3 ). The example media creditor 204 (e.g., viathe code extractor 220 of FIG. 2 ) detects code(s) present in thecaptured audio (block 702). The example code extractor 220 may use anymethod of detecting and/or extracting embedded codes, watermarks, and/orany other type of auxiliary information from the audio. The example codeextractor 220 determines whether any codes are detected (block 704) and,if so, stores the detected code(s) (block 706). For example, the codeextractor 220 may store the codes in association with the data file forlater crediting of the time period represented by the data file. Theexample code extractor 220 of FIG. 2 may further store a timestampcorresponding to a time or a range of time represented by the data fileat which each particular code was detected.

After storing the detected code(s) (block 706), or if no codes aredetected in the audio (block 704), the example media creditor 204 (e.g.,via the signature generator 222 of FIG. 2 ) generates signature(s) ofthe captured audio (block 708). The example signature generator 222 mayuse any method of digitally characterizing the captured audio. In someexamples, the signature generator 222 generates multiple signatures tocharacterize the time period of the data file. In some examples, thesignature generator 222 also generates multiple signatures of identicalor overlapping portions of the time period to perform one or morecharacterization or signaturing methods. The example signature generator222 stores the generated signature(s) (block 710). For example, thesignature generator 222 may store the generated signature(s) inassociation with the data file for later crediting of the time periodrepresented by the data file. The example signature generator 222 ofFIG. 2 may further store timestamp(s) corresponding to time(s) and/orrange(s) of time represented by the data file that are characterized byeach of the generated signature(s).

The example media creditor 204 (e.g., via the on/off detector 224)determines whether the captured audio represents an on state or an offstate of the media presentation device 106 for the time periodsrepresented by the data file (block 712). For example, the on/offdetector 224 may analyze portions of the audio and/or other data, suchas gain levels applied to captured audio by the AGC 210, to determine atwhat times the media presentation device 106 was in an on state and atwhat times the media presentation device 106 was in an off state duringthe time period represented by the data file. The example on/offdetector 224 stores the on/off determination(s) (block 714). Forexample, the on/off detector 224 may store the on/off determinations inassociation with the data file for later crediting of the time periodrepresented by the data file.

The example instructions 700 may then end and control returns to block512 of FIG. 5 or block 610 of FIG. 6 .

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an example processor platform 800 capableof executing the instructions of FIGS. 5-7 to implement the exampleaudience measurement device 108, 202, 302 and/or the example mediacreditor 132, 204, 304 of FIGS. 1, 2, and/or 3 . The processor platform800 can be, for example, a server, a personal computer, or any othertype of computing device.

The processor platform 800 of FIG. 8 includes a processor 812. Forexample, the processor 812 can be implemented by one or moremicroprocessors or controllers from any desired family or manufacturer.

The processor 812 includes a local memory 813 (e.g., a cache) and is incommunication with a main memory including a volatile memory 814 and anon-volatile memory 816 via a bus 818. The volatile memory 814 may beimplemented by Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), DynamicRandom Access Memory (DRAM), RAMBUS Dynamic Random Access Memory (RDRAM)and/or any other type of random access memory device. The non-volatilememory 816 may be implemented by flash memory and/or any other desiredtype of memory device. Access to the main memory 814, 816 is controlledby a memory controller.

The processor platform 800 also includes an interface circuit 820. Theinterface circuit 820 may be implemented by any type of interfacestandard, such as an Ethernet interface, a universal serial bus (USB),and/or a PCI express interface.

One or more input devices 822 are connected to the interface circuit820. The input device(s) 822 permit a user to enter data and commandsinto the processor 812. The input device(s) can be implemented by, forexample, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen, a track-pad, a trackball,isopoint and/or a voice recognition system.

One or more output devices 824 are also connected to the interfacecircuit 820. The output devices 824 can be implemented, for example, bydisplay devices (e.g., a liquid crystal display, a cathode ray tubedisplay (CRT), a printer and/or speakers). The interface circuit 820,thus, typically includes a graphics driver card.

The interface circuit 820 also includes a communication device such as amodem or network interface card to facilitate exchange of data withexternal computers via a network 826 (e.g., an Ethernet connection, adigital subscriber line (DSL), a telephone line, coaxial cable, acellular telephone system, etc.). The example interface circuit 820 mayimplement the return path interface 216 and/or the network interface 218of FIGS. 2 and/or 3 .

The processor platform 800 also includes one or more mass storagedevices 828 for storing software and data. Examples of such mass storagedevices 828 include floppy disk drives, hard drive disks, compact diskdrives and digital versatile disk (DVD) drives. The mass storage device828 may implement the input database 214 of FIGS. 2 and/or 3 .

The coded instructions 832 of FIGS. 5-7 may be stored in the massstorage device 828, in the volatile memory 814, in the non-volatilememory 816, and/or on a removable storage medium such as a CD or DVD.

Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacturehave been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is notlimited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods,apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope ofthe appended claims either literally or under the doctrine ofequivalents.

1-16. (canceled)
 17. A method, comprising: generating, by executing aninstruction with a processor, a signature of audio obtained from a mediadevice during a time period; determining, by executing an instructionwith the processor, whether the generated signature matches at least onereference signature; determining, by executing an instruction with theprocessor, and based on a gain level applied by an automatic gaincontroller during collection of the audio, that the media device is inan off state; and crediting, by executing an instruction with theprocessor, the media device with presenting media during the time periodin response to the signature of the obtained audio matching at least onereference signature and the determination that the media device is inthe off state.
 18. The method of claim 17, further including: comparingthe signature of the audio to a first reference signature correspondingto first reference media; and crediting the time period to the firstreference media when the signature of the audio matches the firstreference signature.
 19. The method of claim 17, further includingidentifying encoded information present in the audio obtained from themedia device during the time period.
 20. The method as defined in claim19, wherein identifying the encoded information includes extracting asteganographically encoded watermark from the audio.
 21. The method ofclaim 19, further including overriding the determination that the mediadevice is in the off state based on encoded information and thesignature.
 22. The method as defined in claim 17, further includingobtaining the audio with a microphone at a monitored location.
 23. Themethod as defined in claim 17, further including obtaining the audiofrom a data file at the media device.
 24. A system comprising: aprocessor; a memory; instructions stored in the memory, the instructionsto cause the processor to: generate a signature of audio obtained from amedia device during a time period; determine whether the generatedsignature matches at least one reference signature; determine an on/offstate of the media device based on a gain level applied by an automaticgain controller during collection of the audio; credit the media devicewith presenting media during the time period in response to thegenerated signature matching the at least one reference signature andthe on/off state determined for the media device being an on state; andcredit the media device with presenting media during the time period inresponse to the generated signature matching the at least one referencesignature and the on/off state determined for the media device being anoff state.
 25. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor is to:compare the signature of the audio to a first reference signaturecorresponding to first reference media; and crediting the time period tothe first reference media when the signature of the audio matches thefirst reference signature.
 26. The system of claim 24, wherein theprocessor is to identify encoded information present in the audioobtained from the media device during the time period.
 27. The system ofclaim 26, wherein to identify the encoded information, the processor isto extract a steganographically encoded watermark from the audio. 28.The system of claim 26, wherein the processor is to override thedetermination that the media device is in the off state based on encodedinformation and the signature.
 29. The system of claim 24, wherein theprocessor is to obtain the audio with a microphone at a monitoredlocation.
 30. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor is to obtainthe audio from a data file at the media device.
 31. A method comprising:detecting, by executing an instruction with a processor, encodedinformation present in audio obtained from a media device during a timeperiod; determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, andbased on a gain level applied by an automatic gain controller duringcollection of the audio, that the media device is in an off state; andcrediting, by executing an instruction with the processor, the mediadevice with presenting media during the time period in response to theencoded information being detected in the obtained audio and thedetermination that the media device is in the off state.
 32. The methodas defined in claim 31, wherein the detecting of the encoded informationincludes extracting a steganographically encoded watermark from theaudio.
 33. The method as defined in claim 31, further includingobtaining the audio with a microphone at a monitored location.
 34. Themethod as defined in claim 31, further including obtaining the audiofrom a data file at the media device.
 35. The method of claim 31,further including generating a signature of the audio obtained from themedia device during the time period.
 36. The method of claim 35, furtherincluding overriding the determination that the media device is in theoff state based on encoded information and the signature.